The Cubs’ off-season appears to be centered on where (and when) Jim Hendry will trade Milton Bradley … as well as how much of the remaining two years and more than $21 million the Cubs will have to send to his new team.

Tampa remains the most likely destination for Pat Burrell. Reportedly Hendry will then try to trade Burrell for a player that fits the improvements the Cubs are looking to make this winter. Bruce Levine reiterated Tuesday that the Cubs have little to no money in the projected payroll for 2010 to make changes. Any deals would have to be dollar for dollar and ‘Movin Milton‘ remains the Cubs first objective of the off-season.

Part Three: The Reserves and Rumored Additions

As mentioned in part one, if the 2010 campaign began today, the Cubs bench would likely consist of Mike Fontenot, Aaron Miles, Sam Fuld, Jake Fox and Koyie Hill. Andres Blanco is out of options and if Fontenot or Miles is on the roster Opening Day, Andres Blanco will be with another organization.

If Jake Fox is still with the Cubs, he should make the roster on Opening Day. Fox gives Piniella more options than Micah Hoffpauir.

Here are the projected numbers for 2010, along with actual numbers from 2009, for Lou Piniella’s bench …

Bill James is projecting Koyie Hill to be a little less productive than in 2009 but if Geovany Soto rebounds next season Hill’s offensive production will be a moot point. Mike Fontenot will bounce back according to Bill James’ projections … but nowhere near his 2008 campaign.

Aaron Miles has the most to prove, if he’s still a Cub on Opening Day. Jake Fox and Sam Fuld are projected to be as productive at the plate as they were a year ago.

With two open spots on the Cubs’ 40-man roster, the big league roster figures to have a few more additions and subtractions before the games actually count again. For now, Bill James is projecting similar performances from Andres Blanco and Micah Hoffpauir. Tyler Colvin could be a player that makes a difference in 2010. His “cup of coffee” last year did not give a true indication of what kind of player Colvin will be at the big league level.

Most of the rumors surrounding the Cubs are focused on the player the Cubs could get in return for Milton Bradley. The Cubs are rumored to be interested in trading for Luis Castillo and possibly signing Marlon Byrd to play center. Byrd excelled in his final year in Texas under Rudy Jaramillo.

Then there is Curtis Granderson. Should the Cubs trade a couple of their top prospects for Granderson? Bill James is projecting a bounce-back season for the Chicago native … like the rest of the players on this list, a new team, possibly a new league and a new home park will effect their projections for 2010.